Birmingham's B.L. Harbert to build $116 million U.S. embassy in Benin

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- B.L. Harbert International LLC has won a contract to build a $116 million U.S. embassy in the West African nation of Benin.

The Birmingham-based construction company has built embassies around the world. Other projects include those in Swaziland, London and Morocco.

In Benin, the new U.S. embassy compound is being built in the city of Cotonou. It is being designed to meet LEED Silver standards, a program that is focused on environmentally-sound and energy-efficient building methods.